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Showing posts with label Fred Thompson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fred Thompson. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Instapundit & Fred Thompson - Two Different Takes On Pelosi's Carbon Footprint
Responses to recent FOIA requests have shown that, in the period of January through October, 2010, former Speaker of the House, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, took 43 flights on military aircraft covering 90,155 miles.
Instapundit's response to this was righteous outrage:
I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ONE GODDAMN WORD ABOUT MY CARBON FOOTPRINT
Fred Thompson's take was a bit more reserved and philosophical:
(H/T Bluegrass Pundit)
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Convention Day 2: Fred On Fire; Joe Is Effective, Susan Estrich On Palin
Fred Thompson gave probably the best speech I have ever heard from him. It was a tour de force combining an intro to Sarah Palin, an incredibly moving McCain biography, and some wonderful insights and observations. Joe Lieberman, in his own way, gave an equally strong speech aimed at establishg that there is one agent of change in this race, and it is John McCain. He asked Dems to cross party lines and pull the lever for Senator McCain and Gov. Palin. During the talking head portion of the show, Susan Estrich came on and savaged the left and the media for their treatment of Gov. Palin.
Wow. Fred on fire indeed. Transcript here. If you haven't seen it - of if you want to see it again:
I knew that one of John McCain's sons was in the service. I did not realize that three of McCain's sons were, and that two already had already seen service in Iraq. And Thompson's story concentrating on McCain's character was moving indeed. The absolute best line of the eve - As regards John McCain, when it comes time to decide whom to vote for, "it's pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, "Who is this man?" and "Can we trust this man with the Presidency?"
Lieberman's speech was much more low key, but every bit as supportive of John McCain, emphasizing both his judgment and the fact that he is the true post partisan in the race. I will post a video when I find it. Here is a transcript.
Susan Estrich appeared on Greta Van Sustern after the speeches and just savaged the media and the left over their attacks on Ms. Palin. That said, she made two good points. One, the McCain campaign made a strategic blunder by not having a massive briefing book her ready to hand out to the press on Day 1. The daily leaks are going to chip away as days go by. Pondering this, I believe she is correct. Two, Estrich noted that the ball is completely in Palin's court. If she charms middle America and convinces us that she can lead, then the tsunami of attacks will be paid back in full on Democrats in November.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Interesting News - 22 January 2008
Are Brits at the Their Best suggesting that Brits take a cue from their storied ancestors about how to take back their country? Hmmmm, given the nature of the "outdoor activities" they review, one could make that assumption. But who am I to cast stones. I’ve been suggesting a Boston Tea Party at the Thames for some time now.
When you see British people being criminally prosecuted for selling goods in pounds and ounces rather than by metric weights, you can get some small feel for how heavy handed life in the EU portends to be.
Would Turkey lifting its ban on headscarves be a victory for freedom of choice or a Muslim trojan horse? (H/T Turcopundit)
In response to incessant attacks on its people by elements of the democratically elected government of the Palestinians, Israel took the quite reasonable response of cutting off its energy supplies to the Gaza Strip in an effort to have the people of Gaza begin to take control of their murderous government. That lasted two days because of concerns of a humanitarian crisis - in Gaza of course. Apparently, Israelis targeted for anonymous murder by Hamas rockets does not count as such a crisis. The outcome was foreseen by some. When will Israel figure out that it stands no chance if it conducts its foreign policy and national security in terms of the whims of foreign opinion. If this type of decision making continues, we suspect we will see the end of Israel in our lifetime. Having said that, the ability to laugh at insanity and keep one’s sense of humor suggests that I might be wrong.
Indeed, Saudi Prince Turki has offered dhimmi status to Israel if only Israel will embrace the ill named Arab League "peace plan." I think any appropriate response must of necessity include some euphanism for sex and mention of a camel.
Tomorrow War has an exceptional round-up of relevant links covering a wide range of topics, from attacks on U.S. supply lines in Pakistan to California sending a trade delegation to Cuba. (I think the latter might run afoul of a law or two).
Cryptome has posted an extensive interview with our nation’s Spy Chief, Mike McConnel. The interview covers the panapoly of issues facing our intelligence community today – the majority of which are internal. This is a must – read. (H/T Soob)
Free speech, the Blue Group, and France’s hate speech laws are discussed here.
Dinah does Pakistan, . . . or at least an exceptional round up of Pakistani news.
In honor of Neville Chamberlin and the current UK Labour government, TNOY has the top nine UK Islamic occupational specialties.
Fred’s fried. I predicted this after his loss in South Carolina. Rick Moran is in morning, as our many of us who saw in Fred a true Regan conservative. He was the right man, but the wheels started to come off of his campaign in July. I suspect that, given the current economic climate, Romney will reap the most from Thompson’s exit through Super Tuesday.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Interesting News - 14 January 2008
This is hilarious. All the reasons to vote for Fred, Part II
(H/T Blogs of War)
Normalcy returns to Baghdad, block by block.
Do read this eloquent posting from the Covenant Zone on the Danish Cartoons, the prosecution of Ezra Levant, and the left’s defining cult of victimhood ascendant in Canada today.
Read this superb roundup on the situation in Pakistan from Dinah Lord. And do see this on the plot to blow up the Eiffel Tower.
From the Int’l Herald Tribune: "Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi received an Islamist death threat Friday in a letter containing two bullets that was sent to a newspaper owned by his family's media empire. . . In September 2001, when Berlusconi was prime minister, he inflamed the Muslim world and angered Western diplomats by stating that Western civilization was "superior" to that of Islam." Just as a curious aside, why would Berlusconi’s statement anger Western diplomats? If they think Islamic culture superior, they should adopt it. (H/T MK’s Views Down Under)
The Velvet Hammer takes note of Hillary playing the . . . Osama card?
At Gates of Vienna, a response to the taqiyah of main stream British Islamist and grandson of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Tariq Ramadan.
See Dr. Sanity for her incisive thoughts on capitalism.
And on a related note, see the Glittering Eye for a review of the blunders of those who are supposed to be watching and assessing capitalism for us.
Soccer Dad has a great analysis Shibley Telhami’s editorial in today’s paper about the driving motivation of Arab regimes today.
American Digest has a great roundup of "Science Made Stupid"
Britney Spears to go burkha? Apparently so. According to the Jawa Report, Britney Spears, currently involved in a relationship with a British Sunni Muslim, "will be converting to Islam, thus ending all doubt that she belongs in a mental institution."
And lastly, from the Shield of Achilles: The photo [below] is Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, from Arlington, Oregon, a short time before she took office. The photo . . . upset some people in the town enough to demand her resignation. Holy cow, people need to get a life: 1) The photos were taken before her job as Mayor, and have nothing to do with her job; 2) These aren't nude photos anyway (you can see the same amount of skin at the beach), and 3) she looks great! You don't see too many town mayors with that kind of muscle tone and flat stomach. Wow! She should be proud. It's actually the kind of example in physical fitness that America needs more of, not less.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Fred On Fire
Fred Thompson just gave the most commanding performance of any candidate in any debate in the '08 campaign. I liked Thompson for president early on, but thought he took himself out of the running when he did not join the fray on July 4 as originally planned. His campaign looked muddled through September and he never seemed to find his voice.
Until this evening.
He found his voice this evening. He was aggressive, intelligent, and didn't show "fire in the belly" as much as an inferno.
Mike Huckabee was ground zero for a nuclear Fred this eve. Wow. Was that fun to watch. And deserved.
Will Fred get a bounce out of this? I don't know, but I do hope so.
What was not fun to watch was Ron Paul. Somebody put this guy out of my misery. I am waiting for him to conclude with "B'dee, b'dee, b'dee . . . that's all folks." What a looney tune.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Interesting News – 10 January 2008
The top three Republican candidates appear to be in a tie in Michigan. I wonder if we will see a Republican nominee emerge before the convention. Rick Moran is asking for our support for Fred Thompson.
Some thoughts on McCain that mirror my own here. McCain is hardly a die hard conservative, and his votes on tax cuts and immigration are hard to swallow. But he has vowed to end earmarks and he makes the highest marks on national security, both of which make him an attactive candidate to me at least. In terms of bipartisanship, he is also the real deal – a true thorn for conservatives on many issues, but he would likely appeal to many independents. Bookworm Room wonders if he isin’t trying to position Lieberman as his running mate.
Remember the Lancet Report claiming 655,000 Iraqi dead issued just before the last election? The World Health Organization has released its own, much lower count based on a much larger sampling. Laer has the story here.
I am regularly amazed by the arguments against using picture I.D.’s to combat voter fraud. Of particular note is the argument that it would harm the indigent and prevent them from voting. That seems a canard. Anyone who can make it to a polling booth on election day can just as easilly make it to a government office, show proof of their identity and get an i.d. card. Contrary arguments appear to be an invitation for fraud. More thoughts here.
The People’s Democratic Republic of San Francisco wants to be a gun-free an island unto itself. And in some ways, they are making progress towards that goal.
Al Sharpton smells some race-geld to be had in the inadvertent comment of a TV golf analyst. He has started mining and much to its shame, the Golf Channel has caved.
And from Across the Pond . . .
Europe has discovered democracy. They want to vote and have their say . . . in the U.S. elections.
Democracy does have its limits, however. The governments of Europe want a "mature debate" on the EU, but no vote on the same. And on this most important issue facing Britain since 1939, Labour is being assissted by the Tories. Scandalous. When the Queen took the oath of coronation near half a century ago, it was clearly not the EU Constitution she was binding herself, along with the people of Britain, to uphold. At least some people are attempting to expose the government’s deceit in their own way.
The BBC knows where its bread is buttered – its Brussels, not Westminister. EU Referendum ponders whether this might explain the BBC’s fawning coverage of and deference to the EU. I think that the EU is simply the ultimate leftist construct, and given the bent of the BBC, that explains the affinity.
And the MCB responds to the comments of the Bishop of Rochester that there are no-go areas in Britain. Sheik Yer Mami notes that most Britons seem to disagree with the MCB.
"Millions of children are being raised on prejudice and disinformation. Educated in schools that teach a skewed ideology, they are exposed to a dogma that runs counter to core beliefs shared by many other Western countries. They study from textbooks filled with a doctrine of dissent, which they learn to recite as they prepare to attend many of the better universities in the world. Extracting these children from the jaws of bias could mean the difference between world prosperity and menacing global rifts." This is a quote on education in French and German public schools. Read this exceptional post at DWM.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The Huckster & Obama Take Iowa
With 65% of the precincts reporting, Fox News has called Iowa for the Mike Huckabee with 31% of the caucus vote. Romney, who spent a large part of his budget for advertisements in Iowa, is well behind Huckabee in a second place at 23%. Thompson and McCain are in a near tie in third place at about 13% each.
On the Democratic side, its appearing that Obama has taken Iowa with 37%. Clinton and Edwards stand tied at 31%.
I do not see a Huckabee nomination in the cards. Our President's most important job will be foreign policy and, in that arena, Huckabee seems, to put it charitably, naive. Further, his personal ethics are very much in doubt after the incredibly transparent trick of a few days ago, holding a press conference to show attack ads that he then said he would not show. If he ever tried such sophmoric tricks as President, he would absolutely be eaten alive, and rightly so.
Huckabee's defining characteristic among Iowa voters seems to have been that Huckabee is a Christian conservative. Outside the realm of identity politics, Huckabee has nothing of substance to offer.
As to what this means for the Democrats, the aura of inevitabiity has been shattered for Hillary. For far too long, Hillary refused to answer any questions of substance and tried to straddle the fence on all issues, with the apex of these acts comining during a debate when, in answer to a question about NY Gov. Spitzer's driver's licenses for illegals, she made statements that contradicted themselves. She has been too clever by half. Whether she can overcome the storm of losing Iowa is now very much an open question.
In one way at least, I welcome Obama's victory in a largely white, rural state. Perhaps now we can start to bury the race card as a viable part of American politics.
Update: Arianna Huffington is ecstatic.
Update: With 98% of the caucusus reporting, it appears Edwards has taken scond place, with 30%. Clinton is in third place with 29%.
Update: Joe Biden has dropped out of the race.
Update: Ron Paul came in with 10% of the vote.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Interesting News From Around The Web - 12/22/2007
Secretary of Defense Gates says that Pakistan is now al Qaeda’s primary target. And now a suicide attack inside a crowded Mosque in a settled area of Pakistan.
When the NYT runs positive front page articles on a particular Republican presidential candidate, why do I feel like there is an ulterior motive?
More on the destroyed CIA Tapes, this time from the 9-11 Commission staff.
Is China’s military operating outside of Politburo control?
Is global warming a cover for countries to try and gain economically at our expense?
The WSJ takes note of the incredible sophistry of Ms. Clinton’s far left foreign policy statements.
Reversing a trend that began with the Jacobites some 200 years ago, Sarkozy, a Catholic, is urging a greater role for religion in France’s public life.
Soccer Dad looks at Iranian influence on this side of the pond which, in reality, has been with us and growing for many years: "Allowing Iranian influence to grow in the Western hemisphere presents a threat to the United States. Will the government act to forestall this threat or allow it to grow unchecked?" If the latest NIE is any indication, we will not be forestalling that threat anywhere in the world.
I do not understand Israel’s restraint in failing to respond with overwhelming force when they are regularly attacked from the Gaza Strip. The latest is six qassam rockets that landed in an Israeli school yard. Joshuapundit has the story.
A Porkbusters letter to the President pleading for an end to earmarks in the Omnibus Spending Bill.
The insane energy bill that skews agricultural production and puts us on the edge of incredible inflation in the price of food.
Rick Moran at Right Wing Nuthouse throws his political endorsement behind Fred Thompson.
The question of universal healthcare has several facets, but the gate keeper is can such a system be made to work without degrading the quality of care. The Glittering Eye has an interesting post on this from the perspective of a Canadian doctor.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Fred On Fire
Is this for real?
This is hilarious. I got it off of Right Wing News, and I do not know its authenticity. If he runs this in Iowa and New Hampshire, this will be an incredibly bold move. I thought Fred waited to long to get in the race. If he had come in as planned in July, he would have been riding the crest of a wave of support. Every day he waited beyond that cost him support. But if this ad is for real, this may be the kind of bold stroke that might put him back in the race.
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